The two armies set off from Quanzhou, causing shock. Since they came to Fujian and were about to conquer the entire Fujian, their actions lost their confidentiality. Moreover, Su Tiancheng believed that Huang Daozhou would definitely stand up and speak, including Liu Zongzhou in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. These people would definitely prove their value at such a critical moment.

However, the banner raised by Su Tiancheng still demanded the elimination of corrupt officials and the people were peaceful. This slogan is a bit far-fetched, but it has some reasonable meanings when it comes to Shandong's relief of disaster victims. Besides, when the people heard such a slogan, they would not stand up and object. As for the literati class, Su Tiancheng's idea had long changed. Since he wanted to dominate the world, the literati class had to selectively recruit it. It was not to accommodate all the literati and literati in the Ming Dynasty. Some literati who did not play a role were the target of elimination.

When Xiong Zijian was in Quanzhou, he had already disbanded all the troops of the garrisons in Quanzhou according to Su Tiancheng's request. In theory, this would have a great impact. After all, Quanzhou is surrounded by the sea and has many garrisons in name only, such as Yongning Guard, Chongwu Guard, Fuquan Guard, Kinmen Guard, and Zhenhai Guard connected to Zhangzhou Prefecture. However, when Zheng Zhilong was in Quanzhou, he had already taken action and integrated many garrisons. These garrisons obeyed Zheng Zhilong's leadership and accepted Zheng Zhilong's silver coins. After Xiong Zijian came to Quanzhou, he accepted these clubs legitimately and completely transformed the garrisons. In fact, it was to abolish these garrisons and let their own soldiers take charge of these garrisons. As for those garrison commanders, all of them were removed from their posts.

The army was moving very quickly.

The 20,000 army led by Su Tiancheng was still on a warship. He took the Plum Blossom Station, passed by Changle and Min County, and arrived directly at Fuzhou Prefecture City.

The speed of riding on warships was relatively faster by land. Three days later, the army arrived at the Plum Blossom Station.

Fuzhou is the location of the governor's yamen in Fujian Province, and it is also the first place that Su Tiancheng wants to take over. Judging from the list provided by Xiong Zijian, there are the most wealthy people in Fujian. These wealthy people and their escorts are also the key targets for Jiangning Camp to deal with.

The other two people who need attention are Fujian Governor Song Yihe, who was selected by the general soldier.

This was a very strange battle, not even a formal battle. The soldiers of Jiangning Camp were dressed in the uniforms of Ming soldiers. The weapons were majestic. The people along the way saw that they were the Ming army, and they did not commit any crimes, so they didn't care at all. The main garrisons in Fuzhou were Zhendongwei, Plum Blossom Institute, Dinghai Institute and Gutian Institute. Among them, the slightly stronger ones were Zhendongwei, and the other garrisons were in name only.

But Su Tiancheng's primary goal is to take over Fuzhou Prefecture City, which is the center of Fujian.

The few soldiers guarding the Plum Blossom Station were pitiful. Especially after the Jiangning Camp Navy controlled the sea area, it was used as the Plum Blossom Station to prevent the coast guard. There was nothing to do at all. The officers naturally had to find ways to make money. Anyway, the navy was directly responsible for the safety of the sea, and they were happy to be leisurely.

Su Tiancheng led the soldiers of Jiangning Camp to enter the Plum Blossom Institute directly. Without going through the battle, the officers of the Plum Blossom Institute were scared and paralyzed, so it was impossible for them to resist.

The army did not stop and drove directly. According to the itinerary of the march, it could arrive at Fuzhou Prefecture City in three days.

Unfortunately, things did not change according to Su Tiancheng's idea. The rich people in Changle were moved when they heard the news.

On the 21st day of the first lunar month of the 16th year of Chongzhen, the army arrived in Changle County.

Judging from the situation Xiong Zijian's grasp, Changle County is a very critical place. The wealthy and merchants here are quite concentrated. It is also because of the special geographical location of Changle County. It is a transit point between Fuzhou City and the seaside. It is very suitable to do business. It can be directly connected to Fuzhou and can also manage trade at sea.

Su Tiancheng's idea was different. He was not ready to conquer Changle County for the time being. The army still had to rush to Fuzhou Prefecture City. He first took Fuzhou and then began to pacify the forces in various places under Fuzhou Prefecture.

The army did not enter Changle County and was preparing to take a detour, but the merchants in Changle County sent representatives.

Su Tiancheng received a report that there were more than ten people on the official road asking for a visit, claiming to be the representative of merchants in Changle County. After pondering for a while, Su Tiancheng decided to meet these representatives of merchants, at least he had to have a preliminary impression of his next opponent.

But the merchants were able to seize the information and seek experience, which left a very deep impression on Su Tiancheng. Generally speaking, after the merchants and wealthy men came to the army, they tried every means to avoid it. They thought of how to protect their own interests. Unexpectedly, the merchants in Changle County actually came to contact him on their own initiative. I don’t know what requirements these merchants have.

There were eleven people in front of him, all of whom were middle-aged and over, and most of them were white and fat. When they introduced themselves one by one, Su Tiancheng learned that most of these people were representatives sent by the Chamber of Commerce. Changle County specially established a chamber of commerce to govern merchants in Fuzhou Prefecture. This chamber of commerce is an underground organization and has not been recognized by the government. However, among the merchants, the role and ability of the chamber of commerce are far stronger than that of the government.

In other words, most of the people who come to meet or petition are managers in the chamber of commerce, not merchants themselves, but they can represent merchants.

Su Tiancheng was surprised for the first time and also noticed that Xiong Zijian said that merchants from all over Fujian were very powerful, and they probably still retained it. Chambers of commerce are not new, but special chambers of commerce and special management and coordinating personnel are the first time Su Tiancheng has seen. There are chambers of commerce in many places, but the presidents and other candidates of the chamber of commerce are all standard merchants and they all have to do business. Even when Su Tiancheng established the chamber of commerce in Jiangning County, the managers also worked part-time.

If commerce has not developed to a certain level, or if the competition is not in a life-and-death way, there is no need for special personnel to coordinate and manage. Just imagine that shops do their own businesses, and they are very clear in strength and are in peace, so there is no need to spend a lot of energy to coordinate. Having dedicated personnel to manage and coordinate can only show that the merchants in Fujian are not simple, and the competition between each other is also extremely fierce.

But Su Tiancheng would not be particularly surprised when such a situation occurred in Fujian. After all, the merchants here mainly rely on two means to make money. One is sea smuggling, and the other is to sell private salt. Both methods have huge risks and profits, and it is impossible for the government to effectively manage it.

It seems that the Chamber of Commerce specializes in management and coordination, which has shown that Fujian merchants have formed a unified understanding and strength.

This increases the difficulty of attack and extermination.

The court did not recognize the harm of smuggling, and Su Tiancheng was very clear that maritime trade is now his lifeblood of finance. If these merchants in Fujian were allowed to smuggle unscrupulously, their interests would be greatly damaged.

No matter from any aspect, these merchants who made their fortunes by smuggling and selling private salt are the targets that must be wiped out, although it seems a bit cruel to do so.

Everyone's attitude was very good. One of the representatives in their forties was respectful when they spoke to Su Tiancheng, but the requests they made made Su Tiancheng stunned.

It turned out that these merchants had already thought that Su Tiancheng led the army to Fujian, probably to command Fujian. There are many merchants in Fujian doing business in Dengzhou and other places, and some even moved their families to Dengzhou and other places. There must be connections between merchants, so the merchants in Fujian are familiar with Su Tiancheng and know that the status of merchants in Dengzhou and other places is good.

Unfortunately, the merchants in Fujian were wrongly understood. Dengzhou's merchants had a good status, which was the result of Su Tiancheng's request and was also the decision made by Su Tiancheng according to the laws of economic development. However, this does not include merchants in other places, unless these places are done according to Su Tiancheng's overall requirements.

Representatives of the Changle Chamber of Commerce put forward the requirement to make the Chamber of Commerce open and directly manage merchants.

Such a request seems to be nothing, but how could Su Tiancheng not know the tricks inside?

Without rules, you cannot make a square and a circle. Any loss must be followed. If you manage the country based on your personal preferences, you will definitely encounter major problems. Since Su Tiancheng decided to lead the world of the Ming Dynasty, he will definitely do this according to this requirement. If he agrees to the requirements of the Changle Chamber of Commerce, he will definitely be able to obtain the support of many merchants in a short period of time. However, from the perspective of long-term development, trade activities such as smuggling and selling private salt will spread throughout Fujian. At that time, these merchants will probably be able to control the government, including the chamber of commerce, whose power will definitely be greater than that of the government.

Merchants are smart, but sometimes, smart is useless to the local area. The staff of these chambers of commerce represent many merchants in Fujian. They did not expect that in more than ten years, Su Tiancheng could develop so rapidly and make such great contributions. How could it be possible if he could not keep up with him?

This also determines the fate of most merchants in Fujian.

Su Tiancheng didn't say much and told these representatives of the Changle County Chamber of Commerce that Jiangning Camp was on behalf of the imperial court to inspect Fujian, and everything must be done according to the rules. In the past, the government did not recognize the Chamber of Commerce, and Jiangning Camp would not recognize it.

When the chamber of commerce representative left, although there was still a smile on his face, it was very reluctant.

After the chamber of commerce representatives left, Su Tiancheng pondered for a moment and immediately arranged for Liu Tiehan to send scouts to follow these chamber of commerce representatives to see what they would do after they returned to Changle County. At the same time, the army temporarily suspended its progress.
Chapter completed!